Media and members of the public are invited to attend a unique musical extravaganza to be launched tonight.
The Queensland Kodály Choral Festival will bring together singers and musicians from across the State to promote music education. It is a collaboration between The University of Queensland, the Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia, Mt Alvernia College and Padua College.
The launch will take place at Mt Alvernia College in Kedron from 6.30 to 7.30pm in the San Damiano Centre on Somerset Road. There will be several performances from both instrumental and choral groups and a speech by Australian composer Dr Colin Brumby, who will reflect on the role of choral singing in music education.
Festival co-organiser James Cuskelly, from UQ’s School of Music, said members of the public were welcome to come along and participate in the festival.
“Anyone interested in education and music will find this an interesting and stimulating evening,” Mr Cuskelly said.
The Queensland Kodály Choral Festival is a year-long program, with the first event being held over the weekend of February 18 to 19.
“Zoltán Kodály was a noted Hungarian musicologist, linguist and composer. He developed an approach to music education that is based on the belief that music education is the right of every person, that singing is the foundation of all music education and that musical literacy is a prime goal,” Mr Cuskelly said.
“This approach has been adapted and used in Queensland primary schools for some 25 years now and the program is developing in secondary schools, pioneered by UQ graduates.”
The UQ program is regarded as one of the most significant Kodály-based programs in Australia and is developing an impressive reputation.
“The development of the secondary program is of particular significance as we are the only people in the world who have been successful in adapting the philosophy for this age group,” Mr Cuskelly said.
“The Queensland Kodály Choral Festival is a celebration of the adaptation and development of this aural-based methodology in the State.”
Ellaways and Kudos Colour Printing are proudly sponsoring the event.
Media: For more information contact: James Cuskelly (telephone 07 3365 3648) or Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479 or email c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
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